Rotary engine.



G. F. MOORS.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPUCATIGN FILED MAR. 19, mL

Patented May 22, 1917 4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

(, F. II/IOOIISb ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I9. ISI?.

Emma May 22,191.7.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. F. MGRSi RTAHY ENGINE,

APPLxc/Tlors man MAR. x9, 19H.

s'yl 731. Patente May wi?.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"UNii'rn srnrns GEORGE FREDERICK MOORS, OF OWNSBORO, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNDB TO THE RECIP- ROTO ENGINE CO., A CORPQRATION OF DELAWARE.

ROTARY :andina [o all whom it may concern.'

lBe it known that I, GEORGE FREDERICK Moons, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Givensboro, in the -county of Daviess, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and use ul Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the ollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specilcation.

My invention. relates to a rotary engine -of the type employing a piston eccentrically arranged in a cylinder and an abutment by which movement of fluid in the cylinder is controlled, engines of this type being shown in Letters Patent of the-United States Nos. 958,885, 1,029,941 and 1,075,590, issued to me respectively May 24, 1910, June 18, 1912, and October 14, 1913. l

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved inlet and exhaust valve construction providing for a reversal of the engine, and to generallyimprove the engine structure by introducing novel and efficient packing means in combination with the abutment, also an eliicient lubricating system, drain features and piston packing features.

Figure I is a side elevation of my rotary engine.

Fig. IIis aside elevation, partly in section, one of the cylinder heads being removed.

Fig. III is a view, partly in rear elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section on line III-III, Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a vertical cross section taken on` line'IV-IV, Fig. III.

Fig. V is a vertical section taken on line VV, Fig. III, the reversing sleeve being shown in the position assumed when the engine is reversed.

Fig. VI isa top view of the abutment.

Fig. VII is a side elevation of the abutment.

Fig. VIII is a vertical cross .section through the abutment and portions of' the cylinder side Walls 'between which the abutment islocated.

Fig. IX is a section takenhnline IX-IX, Fi VI. l

ig. X is a longitudinal section through one end of the reversing sleeve surrounding the inlet valve and the lever for operating said sleeve,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application led March 19, 1917. Serial No. 155,746.

Fig. XI is an end elevation, partly in section, of the reversing sleeve and lever.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates a cylinder divided into tivo compartments by a partition 1, the ends of the cylinder being closed by heads'Q. 3 designates a power shaft extending through both compartments in the cylinder A and journaled in said cylinder heads and piston. B are pistons lixed to the power shaft 3 in the 65 cylinder compartments, each piston including an eccentric 4, a peripheral ring 5 -and an anti-friction bearing structure between Said eccentric and ring. l

Each peripheral piston ring is provided with said flanges and G which extend rtoward the axis of the piston and in the outer Walls of which 'are circular' grooves` 7 and 7, for the reception of packing members about to be described. The walls of said grooves nearest the periphery of the piston are beveled at 8, Fig. III, and in the grooves adjacent to said Walls are split packing rings 9 having beveled faces corresponding to the beveled faces 8 against which said packing 8o rings are adapted to bear. `Each packing ring 9 is held from circularmovement in its pocket by a restraining pin 10 (see Fig. An expanding ring 11 tending Islightly toward elliptical shape, is situated immediately within each packing ring 9, and within said ring 11 is a second expanding ring/12 of a shape similar to that of the ring 11. These rings 11 and 12 tending, as stated, toward elliptical shape, or being slightly non-circular, serve to expand the packing ring 9 and therefore adjust. the beveled periphery of said packing ring laterally on the beveled face 8 of the groove in the piston' ring yflange so that said packing ring 95 will be lirmly fitted to a wall of a cylinder compartment. The packing ring 9 thus adjusted is designed to prevent the leakage of fluid from the portion of the cylinder com- Y partment around a piston toward the axis of the piston in said comlviartment. As an additional safeguard to prevent such leak- Iage of fluid I provide each piston ring flange piston are beveled as seen at 13 Fig. III,

fitted to the walls of a curved opening in the cylinder, and to prevent the passage of Huid between said walls and the sides of the abutment, I provide the abutment with packing means to be presently described. Each abutment has curved'pockets 19 therein separated by a rounded head member 21, said pockets receiving curved socket members 20 carried by the peripheral rings of the pistons B. T he construction just described permits rocking movement of each abutment during the operation of the piston to which the abutment is connected by the socket members 20 and head 21. A.

The means for packing the abutments will now be described. At each end of each abutment is a flangedl pocket member 22 having its open side presented toward the opposing wall of the opening in which the abutment operates. Blocks 23 of soft packing are mounted in the pocket members 22, (Figs. II and VIII). These packing blocks are compressed by compressor plates 24 resting on the upper edges of the packing blocks, a presser bar 25 having its ends in engagement with the compressor plates and a draw screw 26 extending centrally through 4'the presser bar 25 into the abutment 16.

lpresser bar 25.

Between the packing' blocks 23' and the rear walls of the pocket members 22 are wedges 27 and 28 reversely positioned'relative to each other. The Wedges 28 are in'contact with the packing blocks 23 and the wedges 27 are located between the wedges 28 and the rear walls of the pocket members 22, between which parts said wedges 27 are movable by adjusting screws 29 in the It will be understood from the foregoing that the reversely positioned wedges 27 and 28 serve as backing for the packing members 23,' also that, by adjusting the draw Screw 26, the presser bar 25 i maybe moved inwardly and exertl pressure against ,the compressor plates 24 -with the result of squeezing the vpacking blocks to effect fluid tight joints between such pack? ing blocks and adjacent walls of the opening in which the abutment 1Goperates. Should additional adjustment of the packing members toward the cylinder Walls be necessary to effect Huid tight joints, such adjustment is readily obtained by adjusting the screws 29. to shift the wedges 27. From the foregoing description it will be understood that when fluid is delivered into the cylinders of my engine, it is confined in the cylinder chamber and cannot pass be- .tween the pistons and the cylinder walls or between the abutmcnts and the walls ol the openings in which the ahutments are opconnections 31. 32 io which lluid supply and.

exhaust pipes are attached. The inlet and exhaust pipe connections are located at the longitudinal center of the valve housing 31) and arc adapted to be placed in connnunication with inlet and exhaust ducts 533 and 3l leading to the cylinder compartments of the cnfrinc at. opposite sides ofhe abutmentll, onc pair ot these ducts being shown in tull lilies Figs. lll and lV and in dotted lines Fig. ll.

Within the valve housing 3() is a rotatable reversing sleeve containing a longitudinal bore 36 in which valves to be dcscribed are operable to control the delivery vof fluid to the two cylinder compartments.

The reversingsleeve is provided at its longitudinal center with, a transversely elongated-port 37 communicatahle with the inlet 31 in the valve housing 30, and contains ports-37, ol'lset from its longitudinal center,

,adapted to be placed in` communication at diii'erent times with the inlet and exhaust ducts 33 and 31 leading to and from the cylinder compartments. there being two pairs ofthe ports 37. one for registrywith the ducts leading to one of the cylinder compartments and the other for registry with the ducts leading to the other cylinder compartment. The reversing sleeve 35 contains arcuate transverse channels 35 open to communication with an exhaust chamber 3l extending longitudinally in the valve housing 30. In the bore 36 of the reversing sleeve 35 are independently rotatable sen1i cylindrical'valves 3S. 'lhcsc valves are arranged end to end, one valve controlling the passage of fiuid to one cylinder compartmcnt and the other valve controlling passage of fluid to the other cylinder compartment of the engine. is provided with a plurality of ports 39 (see Figs. II. III and IV). The valves are Aduplicates of each other. but are offset in Each of the valves 38 sleeve is rotated.

-cvlindrical valves 38.

erating rod 40 on which the second valve' is looselyvmounted, and the second valve is securedto a sleeve41 also .loosely fitted to said rod. The means for rocking the val ves 38 in the reversi'nft1f sleeve comprises an ccccntric 42 (see Fig.- I) secured to the power shaft 3 an eccentric strap 43- surrounding said eccentric,` and connecting 4rods .44, 44. leading from said eccentric strap to cranks n ll5 and 46 secured in offset positions to the rod and sleeve 41.

The reversing sleeve 35v has fitted to it at suitable locations packing rings 35Il (see Figs. HI and X) which prevent leakage of iuid longitudinally of the sleeve from the intended channels between it and the inner wall ofthe valve housing'30 in which said sleeve is located.

At one end of the valve housing 30 is a horizontal bracket 47 which serves as a bearing for a stem 48 by which the reversing The stem 48 extends through a packing box 50 (see Fig. X) and is provided at its inner end with Tjhead 49 which lits in a transverse slot at an end of the reversing sleeve. 51 is an operating lever iixed -to the stem 48. This operating lever is located in juxtaposition to va. sector.

supported by the bracket 47, the said sector being provided with notches 53 adapted to receive a latch bolt 54 carried by the operating lever and under the control of a push rod 55 extending longitudinally of said operating lever.

Vhen the pistons, the reversing sleeves 35 and the valves 38 of my engine are in the position shown in the drawings, steamV or other fluid used for motive power, on enterin;r through 'the inletpipe connection 31, passes through the transversely elongated port 37 at the longitudinal center of the rcvcrsing sleeve 35 into both of the semi- Only one of said valves at this time is adjusted, as seen in Figs. Hand V, to permit`passage of fluid therethrough as indicated by the arrows and the fluid passesv through the valve into the inlet duct beneath said valve and through said duct to the corresponding cylinder chamber, as indicated in Fig. II. The fluid entei's the cylinder chamber at the left hand side of the arcuate abutment 16, and its connection to the leccentrically mounted piston- B, and 'eX'S Pressure against said piston to turnit in the direction. indicated by the arrow on the piston.

As the movement of the pistonprogresses,

the Huid in front of it is exhausted into the exhaust duct 34 at y andtraverses said duct to the arcuate transverse channel 35 in the vreversing sleeve 35 vthrough which it passes into' the exhaust chamber 34 tol nd escape into the exhaust engine. l

From the foregoing description, 'it will pipe leadingl from thebe apparent that the Avalve 38 through which fluid has passed to a cylinder chamberis moved into position to permit said passage through-the medium of the. eccentric 42, eccentric strap 43, and the operating connections between said eccentric strap and the valve. It will be further understood that the other valve 38 has atthis time been so adjusted by the same eccentric as to prevent lpassage ol .fluid therethrough to the inlet port 33 controlled thereby. Whenthe piston B in the cylinder to which lluid is, rst adi'uitted.- as described, has partakenof a certain degree .of inovenient, the second valve becomes adjusted to a position coirel spondingl to that of the rst valve, and fluid then passes throughy the second valve, the inlet port 33 with which it is communicable and into the second cylinder compartment to press against the eccentrically mounted piston therein, which has at this time become adjusted to the position assumed by the first 1 Y piston when it is ready to receive fluid delivered through the first mentioned inlet duct 33.

The foregoing description applies to the positions of the-parts of my engine when the engine is 'running in a forward direction,

and at which time the operating lever 51. occupies the position shown in F ig. II, andis `held in such position by the engagement of the locking bolt 54- in one of the notches 53 in the sector 52. To reverse the engine, the operating lever- 51 is shifted to carry the locking bolt 54 to the second notch 53. In so moving said operating lever the reversing sleeve 3 5 partially rotated with a result ot.' placing ports 37 in registration with the exhaust ducts 34, and placing the arcuate channels 35 in the reversing sleeve in comi iuunication withthc inlet ducts 33. lVhen this adjustment of the reversing sleeve has been made the exlniist ducts 34 become inlet ducts and the inlet ducts`33become exhaust iio ducts. The fluid then entering the valves 38 engine quickly without shutting off the delivery of Huid through the inlet pipe, but by adjustment of the reversing sleeve 35 to a neutral position. Upon moving the operating lever 51 to a position midway between the two notches 53 in the sector 52,

as shown in Fig. XI, the reversing sleeve isf so positioned that the .inflow of fluid will he divided, the fluid passing through the ports 37 in the reversing sleeve to both of the ducts 33 and 3l so that it is delivered into the cylinder chambers at opposite sides of the abutmcnts le. 'Ihc pressure at opposite sides of said abutments is, therefore, balanced and the exhaust from each cylinder chamber is shut oit, hence the pistons areA quickly brought to rest.

Lubricant is supplied to the pistons of my engine through a check valve 56 (see Figs. I and Il) in communication with a duct 5T leading longitudinally in the wall of the cylinder A to theJ ends of the cylinder. The duct 57 communicates with ducts 58 in the cylinder heads 2 leading in Said vcylinder heads to the interior oi the bearing eases 2 around the power shaft 3. The lubricant delivered into the chamber of said bearing case acts to lubricate the bearings therein -and flows from such chamber through outlet tubes 59 into grooves 60 in spacing rings 61 secured to the eccentrics 4 of the pistons B. The outer walls of said 'spacing rings contain circular slots into which the tubes 59 extend and which permit of 'the spacing rings operating around said tubes. From the grooves in the spacing rings 6l the lubricant passes through tubes 62 into ducts 63 in the piston eccentrics 4 and the inner members of the anti-friction bearings between the piston eccentrics and the peripheral rings of the piston. Lubricant is, thereby, constantly delivered to the anti-friction bearings just mentioned.

To prevent water of condensation from i interfering with the operation of theA pistons in mv invention when steam is used as a motive power, I provide each piston with transverse grooves 6ft located Vin, the pcriphery of the piston (see Fig. II). I also provide a cylinder compartment drain 65 which communicates wit a. discharge pipe 66 through which water of condensation may be withdrawn at intervals, the said pipe being provided with a valve 67 (see Fig. I). Drain ducts 68 lead from each side of each cylinder compartment in the cylinder heads and partition between the compartments. These ducts communicate with an escape pipe 69 (see Fig. III), and any water of condensation accumulating betweenl the packing rings in the sides of the piston is vented through said chiots and pipe.

In each compartment of the cylinder A of my engine is a Babbitt or anti-friction lining a (see Figs. II and III) which at the ends of said abutment. packing meminterlocked with the annular wall of the" eylinder, as shown. This lining is non-corrodible, may be readily applied t0 conform to the pistons operable in the cylinders, so ,that the contact between the periphery of the pistons and the face surrounding them -is greatly improved. Furthermore, scale or other hard substance entering the cylinder becomes embedded in the soft lining, and the liability of damage to the pistons and the wall of the cylinder by such hard substances is eliminate( I desire to mention that the lever 51, by which the reversing sleeves 35 are operated, may be located at either end of the valve housing 30, in which event the cranks 45 and 46 and the parts associated therewith, will be located at the opposite end, these parts being interchangeable with each other.

The outer end of each reversing sleeve is provided with a transverse slot to receive the T-head 49 of the stern 48 to which the operating lever 51 is secured, and the valve housing head in which said stem is mounted may be interchanged with the head at the opposite end of the valve housing, and when such interchange is made the T-head 49 is received by the slot in the adjacent reversing sleeve.

It will, of course, be understood that when the parts are interchanged as mentioned, it is necessary to locate the eccentricA 42 and parts coopera-ble therewith at the end of the engine at which the cranks 45' and 46 are located.

I claim V 1. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, an abutment connected to said piston and adapted to partake of movementin response to movement of said piston, compressible packing members carried by said abutment, means for compressing said packing members, and means for adjusting said packing members toward the walls of the cylinder in which said abutment operates.

2./In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston operable in said cylinder, an abutment connected to said piston and movable in response to movement of the piston, pockets bers in said pockets. and means for compressing said packing members in said pockets to effect luid tight joints between the ends ot the abutment and the opposing cylinder walls.

, 3. In a rotary engine.y a cylinder.l a piston l operable' in said cylinder, an abutment connected to said piston, pockets at'rthe ends of said abutment, packing blocks in said pockets. compressor plates resting on said packing blocks. and a presser bar connected to .said-abutment and arranged in engagcment with said compressor plates.

4. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston 13o BEST -IVAlLABLl CCF" in said cylinder, an abutment connected to said piston, packing blocks at the ends oi' said abutment, wedges for adjusting said packing blocks toward walls ot'` the cylinder 5 etWeen -v' l1ich the abutment operates, and

' means for .iusting said Wedges. v

5. In a rotary engine,.a"cyl 1nder, a piston operable in said -cylinde1 ran abutment in ysaid cylinder connected to said piston, pack- 19 ing blocks at the ends 'of said abutment, a

pair of Wedges oppositely disposed relative to earch other back of the packing block at eachendof said abutment, and means for.

djusting one of each pair of said wedges to ovetlie adjacent packing block toward a f rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston saidcylinder, an abutment bin dern connected to said piston. theends of said abutment, packsaid pockets, 'a pair of oppodis; osed wedges in each pocket, a Lbywhich pressure may be ompress said packing blocks, arried by said presser bar for 1 vedge of each of said pairs g` y tc'rmove said packinghloeks loialls. of the cylinder.4 otaryjenojine, a cylinder, a piston nfsfaid cylinder, Ysaidpiston havari-grooves in its side faces, the ells )it said groovesn'earest the periphery 'o 'i thei'piston being beveled, an expansible 3p-.packing ring in each groove having a beveled face contacting with the lbeveled :tace-of saidgroove, andmcans for expanding'said packing ring to cause it to ride laterally on the beveled Wall of said groove. 40 8. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston operable in said cylinder, said piston hav-- ing circulargrooves -in its side faces, the Walls'oi'said grooves nearest the periphery .of the' piston being beveled, aneXpansihle packing ring in each groove having a beveled-face contacting with the beveled face ofk said groove, an expanding ring arranged Within said expansible packing ring whereby the latter is expanded and caused 5o to .ride laterally along the beveled Wall l'ot' Said groove.

9. Ina rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston "the cylinder adjacent to the abntf,

controlling the flow of Huid toand Ifro operable in-said eylindersaid piston hav-'- ing circular grooves in its side faces, the Walls of said grooves nearest thev periphery of the piston being beveled, an expansible packing ring in each groove having a beveled face contacting with the beveled -face of said groove, and a. non-circular expanding ring located withinsaid enpansi'ble packing ring whereby the 'expansibie ring is caused to ride laterally along said beveled Wall of the groove in Which the rings are seated. y 55 10. ln a rotary engine, a cylinder, a pishaving ducts therein in communication with ton operable in said cylinder, said piston having circular grooves in its side faces, the walls 'of said grooves nearest the periphery olf-tbe piston being beveled, an expansible packing ring in each groove having a.' 70. beveled face contacting with the beveled face of said groove1 and an eXpansible noncircular expanding ring within -said einY pansiblepacking ring whereby the latter is caused to move laterally along the beveled v Wall of rsaid groove.

'11; Ina rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston oprablerdn saidscylinder, said piston having circl'darigrooves in itshside faces,the

walls of said grooves meanest 'th periphery "0 ol tlie piston being beveled, mrpxpi'ulsble packing ring in nach d groote liii'ng\g` beveled face contacting with' thebeveled face of said groove, and a fair of nonlci'rmb. lar expanding rings located one within vthe other in said groove, the outermost of said expanding rings being arranged .incontact with said packing ring to expand it and canse itto move laterally along the Wall yof .said groove. s '90 l2. In a rotary enginea cylinder, 'a fpis ton in said"cylinder'having'a pair of grooves in one of its side taces, each groove h-aving a 'beveled ivall, an expansible'packing' ring in one of said grooves movablelaterally along itsbeveled wall, means for expandingI said packing ringiand a contractible pack ing ringdn the other grooye movable later all?.r along its beveled lwall.

18. ln a rotary engine,-acylinderfhav ing two compartments, 'a piston 4in each of said compartments, abutments in said cylinder connected to said pistons, a valve hous-l ing having ducts thereinin communication with said cylinder compartments at opposite sides of the abutments, a ported reversing'fsleeve in saidA valve housing, 'anda pair of valves in said reversing sleeve for said cylinder compartments. 110

Il. In a rotaryengine, a cylinder having- Vtwo compartments, a piston in each osaid compartments, abntments in said cylinlder connectedto said pistons, afvalv'e housing having ducts therein vin communication with said cylinder compartments *at opposite sides of the abutments, a orted re` versing sleeve in said valve housing, andv a pair ol valves in said reversing -sleeve for controlling the flow of fluid to vand from said cylinder compartments, said rev e nsin 0'r sleeve having ports through which., may be delivered from said valves to each of thecylinder compartments at` eitherl s idei of the abutment therein.

15. 1n a rotary engine, a cylinder havin two compartments, a piston in each of sai compartments, abutments 'in said cylinder connected to said pistons, a valve housing sleeve in said valve housing, and a pair of.

valves in said reversing sleeve for control ling the How of Huid to and from said cylinder compartments, said reversing sleeve having an 'inlet port and ports through which fluid may be delivered to each of the cylinder' compartments at either side ofthe abutment therein.

16. In a rotary engine, a cylinder having two compartments, a piston in each of said compartments, abutments connected to Said pistons, a valve housing having duct-S therein leading ,to opposite sides of said abut ments, a reversing sleeve in said valve housing'having an inlet port and ports for communication with either of the ducts leading to each compartment, a pair of ported valves movable independently of each other in said reversing sleeve for controlling the delivery of fluid to said cylinder compartments, and means for operating said ya ves.

17. In a rotary engine, a cylinder having two compartments, a piston in eaclr of said compartments, abutments connected to said pistons, a valve housing having ducts therein leading to opposite sides of said abutments, a reversing sleeve in said valve housing having an inlet'port and ports` for communica-tion with either of the ducts leading to eachconipartment, a pairv of ported valves arranged end to end in said reversin sleeve having communication with the in etport in said reversing sleeve in common and having ports through which fluid may be delivered successively first to one of the cylinder compartments and then the other compartment, and means for operating said valves.

18. In airotary engine, a cylinder, a piston within said cylinder, comprising an inner/member, an outer member, and an antiiriction device between said members, said piston being provided with aV lubricant passageway leading therethrough to said antifriction bearing device, and said cylinder being provided Awith a lubricant passageway through which lubricant is delivered to the passageway in said piston.

Il). In a rotary engine, a cylinder having a lubricant passageway leading through its wall and having a well in which the lubricant delivered through said assageway may collect, and a piston in said cylinder having a lubricant passageway therein in `ronnnunication with said well.

20. In a rotary engine, a cylinder having a lubricant passageway leading through its wall and having a well in which the lubricant delivered through said passageway may collect, and a piston in said cylinder having a lubricant passageway therein in communication with said well, said piston being provided with a grooved spacing ring communicating with the passageway in the piston, and said cylinder having mounted therein a conducting tube extending .into said spacing ring through which lubricant may pass from said well to said spacing ring and he delivered into the .passageway in said piston.

21. In a rotary engine, a cylinder having a piston compartment, a piston in said compartment, and packing rings in the sides of said piston, said cylinder 'being provided with drain ducts leading from the sides of said piston through which Water of condensation may be withdrawn.

In testimony that I claim thc foregoing I hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE FREDERICK MOORS. 

